Our guest is Daria Usova, a renowned artist of the Principality of Monaco. Daria created and patented her own collage technique in 2003. Through this unique artistic language, she explores the themes of the ocean, metaphysics, Jungian philosophy and the collective unconscious. Her collages are created from thousands of intricate details.
Her artworks are held in collections around the world, from H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco to the Kardashian family.
Hello Monaco spoke with the artist to learn about her latest news and to understand why so many influential people in the Principality collect her works, often with a waiting list.
Hello Monaco: Tell us about the recent auction at the Monaco Ambassadors Gala, where Simon de Pury sold your work for €80,000.
Daria: As an artist, I have known Simon de Pury for many years. He already has my artwork in his collection, and in 2023, during the Prince Albert II Foundation’s charity evening Rewild the Planet, he sold one of my works for €50,000.
This time, the evening was dedicated to the inauguration of Charles Leclerc as Goodwill Ambassador of Monaco. His lot, a racing helmet, was also presented at the auction.
My lot was Life Shell, a small sculpture from my series dedicated to the ocean. All proceeds from the sale will support the initiatives of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
After the sale, H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Charles Leclerc signed my sculpture. Their signatures became an integral part of the collage, elements that will forever preserve the memory of this evening.
HM: Why is the theme of the ocean so important to you?
Daria: The human body is made up of approximately 70 % water, and around 70 % of our planet’s surface is covered by water. Water carries codes that pass through us and connect us with life. I am interested in exploring this theme through alchemy, symbols and the collective unconscious. For me, water is a portal of information, holding the mysteries of the past, the present and the future. Through the exploration of the depths of the ocean, its creatures, life and metaphysics, one can enter the macrocosm of creation and the inner world of the human being.
It is also a great honour for me to join the efforts of H.S.H. Prince Albert II in raising awareness about the importance of ocean protection. In Monaco, the Oceanographic Museum is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for me.
Hello Monaco: Could you tell us about the collections where your works are represented?
Daria: At the age of 20, my works entered the collection of the Guggenheim Museum Foundation in New York. Today, my artworks are held in significant international private and institutional collections, including Dolce & Gabbana, the Kardashian family, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the last King of Egypt, Bryan Ferry, Larry Gagosian, Simon de Pury, Vladimir and Ekaterina Semenikhin, Hans Kompernass, as well as the Benetton Imago Mundi collection. And the list goes on.
Hello Monaco: Tell us about your most recent exhibitions.
Daria: My recent exhibitions have been connected with very different artistic directions.
Contemporary Istanbul 20, the 20th anniversary edition of the art fair held in the heart of Istanbul in 2025, was very successful. My works were sold, and I was invited to participate with my Portals project at Art Dubai. Together with my Gallery we decided to postpone this participation until 2027.
Most recently, I returned from Mexico, where I took part with my creations in ZONAMACO 2026, the leading contemporary art fair in Latin America. It was a successful multifaceted experience, and I was very happy to start my presence with this step in the Americas.
Hello Monaco: What is your most expensive work sold to date?
Daria: It is a large-scale commissioned sculpture, measuring one metre by one metre, created with a special personalization concept called Collector’s Legacy. The work included personal details, photographs, phrases, memorable moments and favourite places of my collector. I literally personalized the sculpture with his story of success.
It took me six months to create this work, and there is always a waiting list for pieces of this kind. From the initial idea to the final element, the process required a great deal of time. The sculpture is now in Monaco and was sold last summer for €100,000.
Hello Monaco: What project are you planning next?
Daria: For now, I will not reveal all the details, but something truly grand is ahead within the context of the Venice Biennale. Follow my social media, where I will be making the official announcements.
To learn more about Daria Usova’s work, scan the QR code to visit her official Instagram page.
